EDITORIAL LETERS

Free Television Time for Political Campaigns

Regarding the editorial ''Campaign Reform: What's Best?'' Nov. 14: In questioning whether the government has the right to take away broadcast time from private broadcasters without paying for it, you forget that they get their licenses from the government, and FCC regulations still call for free broadcast time. Giving equal amounts of free broadcast time to all qualified candidates is fair and equitable, and those with big bucks can still pay for more air time if they choose.

Without expecting some equitable amount of free time from broadcasters in return, the political campaigns are subsidizing some of the most profitable corporations in the country. Why do political campaigns cost so much? Who receives all that money - the political consultants and the broadcasters? Wouldn't full disclosure of who receives these funds be helpful for campaign reform?

Robert L. Tuck Chapel Hill, N.C.

The McCain-Feingold bill, if passed, may be a step in the right direction. However, until laws are passed to keep political- action committees from financing campaigns, and lobbying is placed under tight restrictions, nothing approaching ''squeaky clean'' politics will ever materialize.

Peter E. Boyes Rancho Murieta, Calif.